Sydney (VNA) - Amid the joyful atmosphere welcoming the Lunar New Year (Tet), the Vietnamese Embassy in Australia on the evening of February 8 held the annual “Xuan Que huong” (Homeland Spring) programme, bringing a vibrant and authentic Vietnamese Tet space to the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in Australia.
The event served as both a meaningful cultural gathering for overseas Vietnamese (OV) and an important people-to-people diplomacy activity, reaffirming strong bonds between the OV community and the homeland.
From the outset, the programme created a warm, homelike Tet atmosphere, with traditional red couplets, banh chung (square glutinous rice cake), five-fruit trays and familiar spring melodies evoking fond memories of the Lunar New Year at home. For many overseas Vietnamese, the event provided a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in Vietnamese cultural traditions, reconnect with fellow compatriots and ease homesickness.
Addressing the gathering, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam expressed his pleasure at joining the OV community in celebrating Vietnam’s development achievements and the steady progress of Vietnam–Australia relations over the past year. He highlighted the successful 14th National Party Congress, which reaffirmed overseas Vietnamese as an inseparable part of the nation and an important bridge in strengthening Vietnam’s relations with other countries.
The ambassador noted that Vietnam recorded GDP growth of over 8% in 2025, while the Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership continued to deepen, with more than 96% of actions under the 2024–2027 Action Plan completed or on track. Despite global uncertainties, bilateral trade reached 14 billion USD in 2025, and the number of Australian tourists to Vietnam rose by 11.6% year-on-year.
He also praised the Vietnamese community in Australia for its active contributions to national development and humanitarian efforts, particularly in supporting compatriots affected by natural disasters. He expressed his hope that the community will remain united and continue contributing to the homeland and bilateral relations in 2026.
Cultural and art performances celebrating spring were a highlight of the programme, especially traditional Tet-themed spaces that attracted strong interest from younger generations, helping preserve and promote Vietnamese cultural identity abroad. The event also featured a ceremony honouring three collectives and 44 individuals for their outstanding contributions to the community and the homeland.
The “Homeland Spring” programme left lasting impressions, bringing the warmth of Tet to overseas Vietnamese and reaffirming that wherever they may be, Vietnamese people share common roots and an aspiration for a prosperous future./.
Homeland Spring 2026 brings overseas Vietnamese together in Japan
The ambassador expressed his delight at the growing strength of the Vietnamese community in Japan and its active contributions to Vietnam’s development as well as to the bilateral ties. Currently, the Vietnamese community in Japan remains the second-largest of its kind in the world, with around 700,000 people and an average annual increase of 50,000–60,000.
